Squirrel Nutkin has a new friend – and he’s armed to the teeth and deadly.

The pine marten, a fearsome predator driven to extinction in England 90 years ago, has started to regain a foothold after crossing the border from Scotland.

Now there are hopes one of Britain’s rarest species could be a powerful ally for Northern England’s endangered red squirrels made popular by the writings of Beatrix Potter.

Research suggests pine martens are more likely to prey on rival grey squirrels, which are being blamed for putting reds under threat because they outcompete them and carry the “squirrelpox” virus that is lethal to reds.

The owner of a Lake Distict caravan park just a few miles from the Lingholm estate where children’s author Potter first sketched red squirrels is now planting dozens of Scots pines to help attract them.

Harry Wild, whose family owns the Skelwith Fold Caravan Park near Ambleside, told i the trees are a favourites for pine martens to build nests and the seeds in the cones are a favourite food of red squirrels.

“It would be really special if visitors could see both red squirrels and pine martens here and if the pine martens can help the red squirrels to survive, then so much the better.

”There have been sightings and we’re hoping the pine martens will come. The trees will also benefit other species and will be here for future generations.“

There were once 3.5 million red squirrels across the UK but the introduction of ”ornamental“ greys from the US in 1876 to populate the grounds of stately homes has left just 120,000 reds – mostly in Scotland.

The population in England is thought to be as low as 15,000. In Cumbria, 14 groups of volunteers Cumbria helping to conserve them.

Pine martens have also suffered due to woodland clearances and persecution, leaving them confined to a few remote areas of Britain and Ireland by the early 20th century.

Hopes of a Northern England pine marten revival emerged last year after stills and video from a camera trap recorded them devouring peanut butter put out for red squirrels in the Kielder Forest, Northumberland.

There have also been sightings of pine martens in Cumbria, although even in their natural habitat they are elusive creatures and difficult to spot.

‘It’s all about holding the line’

Research published last year examined the relationship between red squirrels, greys and pine martens in Scotland found that the spread of pine martens is the best long-term solution for controlling greys.

Previous research in Ireland also suggested pine martens might suppress grey squirrels. They rarely eat reds – perhaps as they are more agile and rarely feed on the ground so are less exposed to danger.

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